Sister rallies to help younger sib
Fundraiser for cancer care set for Aug. 3
Some times a family has to reach out.
For a pair of sisters, this is one of those times.
North Fort Myers resident Kit Mann’s sister, Luann Barber, has been re-diagnosed with cancer and needs to get back to Illinois for treatment.
Money is a problem.
Barber is a breast cancer survivor whose cancer has reappeared as her husband is dealing with prostate cancer and in the wake of the death of two sons from disease, including one last year.
Mann has put together a fundraiser for Luann to be held Sunday, Aug. 3, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Shea’s West in North Fort Myers.
“She needs the gas to get to Illinois and back, hotel stays going there and back. If she needs to stay in the hospital up there, he has to come back down for work,” Mann said. “She has good friends up there, but nobody will be there if she has to have surgery.”
This is Barber’s second battle with breast cancer. She underwent treatment eight years ago and become cancer free five years ago.
Barber, who turns 70 this fall, found a lump two months ago and went to the emergency room at Lee Memorial. There, a doctor found another mass on her left breast the size of a softball, as well as nodules on her lungs, the family said.
“I’ve been quite ill. I don’t act it or feel it, but my innards are telling me I am,” Barber said. “We have money from Social Security to pay our bills, but not for anything out of the ordinary.”
Barber has doctors here in Florida but needs to get back to Chicago where her primary oncologist practices.
Meanwhile, it cost all she and her husband had to bury their son who died last year. The other son had passed in 1996 at age 18.
“We had him cremated and had a short service and it still cost $9,000. We got help for that and put in what we had and now my husband is keeping us afloat here,” Barber said, adding he is working construction as he deals with his own cancer diagnosis.
While temporary housing will be paid for by the American Cancer Society while in Illinois, Mann said her sister needs a helping hand just to get there.
The fundraiser — which will include a 50/50 raffle and prize drawings as well as music from Feast or Famine, tarot readings and dancing by the Calendar Girlz — will help ease the financial burden, she said.
Mann is grateful to the venue. She said she went to many businesses and venues for help but, since this is not a non-profit organization sponsored fund raiser, they were turned down.
Shea’s West stepped up, and since Mann is good friends with the Calendar Girlz, they were also quick to help. Several local businesses have also donated prizes for auction and for giveaways.
Barber said her sister is a great fund raiser, and although she asked her not to, big sister Kit wouldn’t hear of it.
“She told me to get off my high horse. She’s got a mouth on her and that’s what she said. She’s raised over $1,000 for stuff to raffle off,” Barber said. “She said she was going to make sure we could go. She’s always helping people. She’s an angel, and everybody knows I appreciate it.”
Shea’s West is at 1232 N. Tamiami Trail.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com